Most Recent Reviews
Review of Yachtsman Steakhouse
Reviewed by slpayne Review Date: 04/01/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
We were seated within 5 minutes of our arrival. Our dining time was 6:00 and the restaurant was not crowded. Our server was very personable and gave us lots of suggestions. I had the filet mignon and DH the ribeye. He was able to substitute a baked potato for the regular side. It was all wonderful! We were too stuffed to attempt dessert.
Pros:
Wonderful meal!Cons:
NoneReview of Liberty Tree Tavern Lunch
Reviewed by slpayne Review Date: 04/01/2014
Rating: (8) Recommended
In my nearly 40 years of visiting WDW, I had never eaten here. We were seated within 5 minutes. Our server was a little slow greeting us and taking our drink orders, but the rest went quickly. I had the pot roast and DH had the turkey & dressing. Both were very good and we ate off each other's plates! I liked that this was different from your typical WDW food. We will definitely be going back.
Pros:
Something differentCons:
—Review of Sunshine Seasons
Reviewed by slpayne Review Date: 04/01/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
We ate here twice during our 10 day trip. The first time my husband and I shared the turkey sandwich. It was a perfect amount! The second time we were on the Undiscovered Future World tour and had just a few minutes to grab food. They were still serving breakfast so we shared a breakfast platter. It was good as well. Did not realize the first time that there are free refills on drinks. We enjoy our meals here every trip.
Pros:
Quick & easyCons:
NoneReview of Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria
Reviewed by slpayne Review Date: 04/01/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
We ate here 3 times during our 10 day trip. The first 2 times we had an ADR and were seated within 5 minutes. The last time was a Friday night about 7:00. We got in the standby line and waited about 15 minutes. The pizza is our favorite and I love the iced tea. We got the salad twice and it was very good. Service was great every time. Love to talk to the servers about their hometown and disney experiences.
Pros:
Fabulous pizza!Cons:
NoneReview of Garden Grocer
Reviewed by slpayne Review Date: 04/01/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
This was our fourth time to use GG and as usual everything went smoothly. We will continue to use them!
Pros:
Right on timeCons:
NoneReview of Walt Disney World's Magical Express
Reviewed by bellebookworm9 Review Date: 03/31/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
I've used Magical Express many, many times. I called a few days before arriving in Orlando to add two travelers to my hotel reservation. We did not receive their yellow tags before arriving, which I expected. Thankfully their bags showed up very quickly at baggage claim and we made our way over to B side.
They did not show up on the reservation but the agent was able to add them quickly. My Magic Band worked at ME, which was great! Our bus was pretty full, and it stopped at Coronado Springs, All Star Sports and Music, before continuing to All Star Movies.
I used Resort Airline Check In on Saturday morning with no problem. Then I discovered my flight had been seriously delayed. Magical Express said they wouldn't change pick up times due to delayed flights since "the flight could go back to it's original time at any moment". A friend agreed to take me to the airport instead so I wouldn't have to sit there for hours. As it turned out, I ended up changing my flight to the next day. ME gave me a new pick up time at another resort with no problem, 9:45am. Of course, at 9:40 I received a text that my flight was delayed again, and I ended up sitting at MCO for six hours anyway.
I will use ME in the future for sure!
Pros:
Free, easy to adjust travelers, luggage arrived as it shouldCons:
Many stops, unable to adjust pickup time for delayed flightsReview of Boardwalk Villas (Disney Vacation Club)
Reviewed by bellebookworm9 Review Date: 03/31/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
I have always wanted to stay at the Boardwalk and through a random series of events and delayed flights, my friend and I were given the opportunity to stay in a villa for one night, 3/29-3/30, courtesy of a DVC member friend.
The reservation was booked and transferred to my name about an hour before we arrived. Upon arrival to the resort around 8pm, there was no line at the check in desk. Christine at the front desk was very friendly and helpful, despite battling a case of the hiccups! She printed us a rare Key to the World card, since our Magic Bands could not be linked to the hotel reservation, as it had originally been booked by someone else.
James at the Lobby Concierge desk tried his best to link my current Magic Band to the reservation, but eventually I deemed it too much of a hassle for a 14 hour reservation and told them we'd just use the KTTW card. James was able to print my Magical Express voucher with no problem.
We were assigned studio 4050. Thankfully it was not too far from the elevator bank-I can't believe there's one bank for the entire villas building! This turned out to be a wheelchair accessible/hearing impaired room, so it was larger than usual, which I originally attributed to it being on an angle in the building. It was certainly larger than similar studios I've stayed in at Kidani Village and the Beach Club Villas. We had an amazing view of Luna Park Pool, with Tower of Terror and the Earful Tower in the background.
I slept in the bed and found it very comfortable; my friend took the pullout couch and had no complaints. I went out to the pool, and could hear Fantasmic. There were maybe five other people swimming at that time. Alice in Wonderland was playing on a blowup screen. I love the slide at the Boardwalk, and I also indulged in the hot tub for a few minutes.
I really appreciated the little things, like a soap dish for hand soap in the vanity area, which was not available at All Star Movies. I didn't like the low hanging light above the table; it was so low that I (and room service) hit my head on it when standing up.
The lack of breakfast options was disappointing. I ended up ordering room service, and the continental breakfast was very good. I loved sitting on the balcony, sipping hot chocolate and watching the resort wake up.
I left my bags with bell services for a short while before my Magical Express pick up. Mousekeeping was so patient with me when I ran back up to the room twice: once because I forgot my bag of confectionary treats in the fridge and once because I realized I'd left my treasured Mickey ring on the nightstand.
This resort was everything I hoped it would be and I would not hesitate to stay there again.
Pros:
Extremely friendly and helpful staff, amazing room location, huge villaCons:
One elevator bank, lack of breakfast options, light over the tableReview of All Star Movies Resort (Value Resort)
Reviewed by bellebookworm9 Review Date: 03/31/2014
Rating: (8) Recommended
This was my first stay at All Star Movies, which was the only value resort I had not stayed in. My friend and I stayed on a cast member 50% discount in a preferred room from 3/25-3/29. I had requested third or second floor, preferably in Fantasia, with more specific locations noted.
We arrived at the resort around 12:30pm. There was no problem getting MagicBands for two additional friends who were added last minute but did not end up staying with us. We were able to set up credit cards on different bands. Our room was not ready but I was told we would be in Fantasia building 5 on the second floor. Around 2:45 I received a text that our room was 5836. This was overlooking the Love Bug section, and one of the locations I had asked for. On the whole, I was pleased that my requests were met overall.
The room was clean and fine for two adults to use as a place to shower and sleep. There was plenty of drawer space, though I do wish more hangers were provided. Beds were very comfortable. I thought the lighting was adequate, but wished there was a way to dim the headboard lighting, as it seemed a little bright for just reading before bed. Although the room seemed like it would be in a quieter location, I could hear the people upstairs and to the side, as well as people walking down the hall. Cheerleaders practicing in the Love Bug courtyard was also an unexpected noise source. Mousekeeping was very good, always leaving a good supply of towels and toiletries.
One day I walked around the resort and took pictures of everything; it really is a cute hotel. Lobby concierge was very helpful in printing out our dinner show tickets. The gift shop had a decent selection. Food court was great for breakfast, even though it was difficult to find a seat during the breakfast rush. My friend raved about the Penne Alfredo with Chicken.
Transportation was very hit or miss. We had particular difficulty with Downtown Disney buses and Epcot buses. Most nights it seemed everyone got a seat, though we did stand on a few occasions.
This resort was fine, but as far as value resorts go, I prefer Pop Century or Art of Animation. Transportation was better at those resorts, food courts were bigger, and they just give me a more "homey" feeling.
Pros:
Clean room, cute resort, good food court, very friendly staffCons:
Noisy, so-so transportationReview of MagicBand
Reviewed by bellebookworm9 Review Date: 04/02/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
In early January I had written a review about how it took the front desk staff 2.5 hours to activate our MagicBands. I'm happy to say that this time there were no problems at all!
From the beginning at Magical Express, they pulled up our reservation right away. We had no problems charging to the room (on separate credit cards), opening up the room door, and I was even able to attach my Annual Pass almost instantly after exchanging the voucher for the real thing. Once I got FP+ set up, it worked for that too, no problem. I took the leap and bought a couple of the Mickey head MagicBandits because I plan to use this band for the rest of my AP year. I only wish they had purple bands, but I'll settle for pink.
There was a slight problem when we switched over to the Boardwalk unexpectedly for an extra night. The reservation had been made by someone else and then transferred to me, so I couldn't link it in my MDE account. As such, my current band couldn't link up. We were given a KTTW card (and told to guard it with our lives!) for the night. Lobby concierge said they could give us new gray bands, and did try to link the reservation to my current band, but it was not working and we said the KTTW card would be fine.
Pros:
Easy to use, actually worked this time aroundCons:
Minor glitch at second hotelReview of Outdoor Kitchens
Reviewed by bellebookworm9 Review Date: 04/02/2014
Rating: (8) Recommended
I tried at least one item from almost every booth, with the exception of Morocco. Disappointed to find out that the booths do not stay open for Evening Extra Magic Hours but was able to come back another day to finish eating!
Ghost Pepper Tilapia was very good but definitely spicy. I liked the Sweet Potato Cinnamon Waffle with Pineapple Dole Whip. Loved the non-alchololic Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade (a return from last year) and the Watermelon Passion Fruit Slush (previously alcoholic). The Pineapple Dream Sake slush from Japan was very good as well. Appreciated the return of the Pulled Pig Slider at USA.
Did not care so much for the Bubble Tea, the Watermelon Salad, or the Salmon Tartare from UK (though the actual cheddar and potato biscuit was heavenly).
Items that were just so-so were from booths in Mexico, Italy, and France.
I'm glad that F&GF serves food now; it's like a mini Food & Wine Festival for those of us who can't make it down to WDW during the fall.
